Nicely done. Buffy's talk with Annie was well done. Nothing like throwing down the gauntlet with Spike. Of course he could do that position. The book of positions was really interesting.

Author's Response: Hi Bridget! Glad you enjoyed Buffy's talk. I actually think Annie having the basic stuff from Anya, along with the book, kinda helped her cover some things that were just as important and break the ice. Yeah, Spike can resist anything but a dare! heehee! Of course he could do it ... LOL! That book has some really mind boggling suggestions in it - seriously? Does anyone really do some of those things? Maybe Slayers and vampires. LOL! Thanks so much for stopping in! Love hearing from you! -p4s 2011.12.09

The reality of Bess slipping through their fingers and out in the world has really impacted Spike and Buffy, their children no matter how much they love them, ultimately will be on their own one day and the best they can do is to prepare them for whatever the world may throw at them. The talk Buffy had with Annie was therapeutic as well as terrifying for her, the mere idea that Annie may be unprepared for “life experiences” and make the wrong choices is not something Buffy wants to be responsible for. Hard as they may try, their children will not always be sheltered from harsh realities and may have their hearts broken or even put in harm’s way as Annie was when she was abducted. All they can do is be “a safe haven” for their children to come to when they are hurting or are in trouble. Bess doesn’t consider them her “safe haven” and on her journey to face her past human life, she may come to terms with the fact that her previous life is gone and she will have to put it to rest to accept her new chance at a better one with her real parents. Spike may accept the fact that he cannot force Bess to be in their lives but that doesn’t mean he has to like it the best they can do at the moment is to give Bess her space. Spike, Buffy and Bess were tortured by the watchers and the behavior that Bess is exhibiting is her opening up the flood gates of her humanity again. They all have been emotionally scarred and Bess has not had the emotional support of others to fall back on. The love that she has been shown is hard to accept because she has yet to love herself first. Hope she gets to say goodbye to her old family in her heart during her journey to her past and understand that no matter how flawed and patronizing she may view Spike and Buffy, that they are better than not having anyone at all in her life. All her parents were trying to do was to make things “normal” again during all their stress and worrying about finances. Hope that she reflects on her circumstances and even though she felt abandoned and hopeless before, that when it came down to finding about her imprisonment, they dropped everything and left their loved ones behind to rescue her at considerable risk and pain. When all others turn you away, your family will always welcome you back with open arms and hearts. Let Bess know through Billy’s dreams that her family misses her and prays for her safe return. Hope that your muse has “it’s a wonderful life” moment and give us a Christmas miracle to smile about before he goes back to being the Grinch. BTW, the illustrated sex positions were interestingly funny yet curiously sadistic and challenging!




Author's Response: Well crap! I replied and suddenly SR wants me to sign in and lost it all! grrrrr .... Ok, try agan! Hi Vette! LOL! You are very right, Spuffy got a big wake up call and they need to realize that they can't shelter the kids forever, no matter how much they'd like to. They definately need to see that Annie is growing up and treat her that way; easier for Buffy to do than Spike, I'm afraid. She, in particular, will always be 'his little girl' even more than the others I think. I will try to make my muse find some Chirstmas spirit and not be so evil ... but it won't be easy. We will catch up with Bess and see what all she's been through and how she's coping with her journey of discovery, but first a few chapters in SunnyD. I love your reviews, always so in depth and insightful. You are absolutely right, some of those moves (and yes, I picked some of the hardest ones, although there are even more that had me scratching my head .. huh? Is it worth that much work?) in that book of positions are quite challenging! Who does that? Apparently Slayers and Vamps! heehee! Thanks soooo much! Love hearing from you! -p4s 2011.12.09

You really points out their money trouble well in this chapter but you also mix in some fynny things.

Author's Response: Hi Magnus ... Yes, the money troubles will be building even more in the next chapters. Glad you got some smiles out of it too! Thanks so much! -p4s 2011.12.09

Loved this chapter and the memories it brought back of doing what we called "cutting doughnuts" with my dad's truck in the fields. A bonus of living on a farm - my brother would plow over the evidence for me! More soon please.

Author's Response: Hi Melly!! OH YEAH - cutting doughnuts! I lived in a rural area and there was a big field behind our house where I did that with my dad's car when he was off in his truck! I was 13 or 14. LOL! I guess he never figured it out, he never said anything. I don't know how I didn't filp it over! Your brother was a good guy!! My boyfriend had a dune buggy (this was before ATVs existed) ... we did flip that over trying to cross a steep ditch with it - had to walk home and get someone to pull it out. I don't know how I survived childhood! heehee! Thanks for the note! Love hearing from you! -p4s 2011.12.09

I really hate that they have to go through some hard times but that is life. But I really love their family. Spike is a really good Dad. Buffy is a good Mom but Spike seems more in tune with his children.

Author's Response: Hi Bridget! Yeah, sometimes it's the 'mundane' things that can be the hardest to endure ... we'll see how our Spuffy couple does. I think Spike has always had a 'sixth sense' and definately has it with the kids. Although Buffy loves them all just as much, like most moms, I think she has to be the 'bad guy' more, which can dampen the relationship a bit. You'll see her building more bridges, esp with Annie, later in this story and my muse has an idea for a Buffy/Annie centric adventure for later, too. But I agree, Spike definately has more empathy I think. Thanks much! Will have more soon! -p4s 2011.12.01

Loved how they kids welcomed Bess even though they did almost make her brain explode! I especially loved how Spike presented the rings and light sabers!! Thanks for a great update. More soon please

Author's Response: Hi Melly! Heehee! Poor Bess! Can you imagine having three kids telling you *Everything* in the world in one day? LOL! I loved Spike's little ceremony ... we will have to find something for JJ to do to get inducted in the gang here one day ... I need to get my muse thinking on that, although mostly he just comes up with this stuff out of the blue, so hopefully something will come up for JJ to do. Will have more by the weekend! Thanks much! -p4s 2011.12.01

The family reunion went rather well, the way that Spike and Buffy make their kids feel special is great and considering that there are more girls than boys, then it is a good thing that JJ is part of the second generation Scooby gang cause the way the Weckerly’s are going with their increasing brood, they may need to move into one of the abandoned warehouses in Sunnydale. Money may be the next apocalypse they may face now that the bunnies ate Buffy’s “get-by garden”. Spike may have to ask Xander for a job at the construction site as maybe a night watchman and Buffy may need to work for Anya. Short of starting their own Funeral Business which would really be good to head-off burying bodies in the cemetery that come back as vampires, their job choices are really limited. Bess thank goodness is not yet asking for a car, but eventually she’ll have to learn how to drive and get her license. How are they dealing with her citizenship? She’ll need to have proper paperwork to not be deported back to the mother country as well as convincing society that she is younger than she really is. Your muse must have cooties in the brain to write about evil bunnies!

Author's Response: Hey Vette! If you've ever had a garden eaten by Bunnies, you'd know that Anya is right! Evil! LOL! Unfortunately, Spike can't get a job from Xander 'cos Xander's been out of work himself - filling in as a bartender at the Bronze and doing odd jobs; construction co he was working for closed with the downturn in the economy and he's been unable to get another one. (that was from the last story I believe). Bess will be wanting to learn to drive soon - and Spike promised to teach her. We'll see how that goes shortly. For Bess' citizenship, Willow created a false birth certificate (US) and hacked into the State dept to create her a passport, so Bess is, officially, an american citizen. And yes, the next apocolypse bringing Big Bad will be money ... Giles already told Buffy that he couldn't afford to employ both her and Anya full time ... The financial stress is going to be building with a new baby and a new teen in the house ... and, of course, my evil muse will rain other 'horsemen' down on them, as well. The funeral home idea is a good one tho!! Killing two birds with one stone! Will have more soon! Thanks so much! -p4s 2011.12.1

Thanks for another wonderful update! I can only imagine what kind of sex education Annie will end up receiving once her older sister Bess is there to assist Anya in answering her questions! More soon please.

Author's Response: Hi Melly! LOL! Well, hopefully, Buffy can explain to Bess that sex talk around the kids, or bringing strangers home to the mansion, isn't kosher ... ;-) Annie will be giving Sex-Ed classes to the other students in her school soon! Complete with visual aids! LOL! Thanks Melly! Will have more soon! -p4s 2011.11.27

Glad that Wanda gave them a moment. And I love Bess connecting with "J." Seems like pretty impressive first move, and though it may not be the "right" one, it sure shows how pretty well adjusted she is all things considered. A nice warm boy who snores. Haven't solved all the problems but each little step helps. Update soon.

Author's Response: Hi BuffyRat! I think that Bess is testing out her wings with her new freedom and trying to see just what works and what doesn't ... She's very much caught between a child and an adult - wanting approval and security of a family, but also wanting her freedom. B/S may not be prepared to deal with everything that will bring, but they're going to give it their best shot. We'll find out how it goes soon. Will try to keep the updates coming regularly. Thanks much!!! -p4s 2011.11.27

Any chance that paper currency was hidden within the pages of the books stored in the tunnels? That’s how money used to be hidden before banks could be trusted. Maybe a spell could move the tunnels en masse from England to the tunnels in Sunnydale - Willow, Tara, Anya, the watchers and other witches could lend a hand with that task. With slayers on hand to draw power for a spell from they could transfer tunnels from Sunnydale to the tunnels in England. Bess reminds me of the first slayer, no choice on what was done to her, violated, used and basically forgotten for a while. Her decision to have sex on her own terms was Bess flexing her boundaries of her new found freedom. For all of her insecurities, she really needs the love and acceptance of her family and Spike reassuring her that she will not be discarded is a good step in the right direction. Apparently, Wanda helped by turning the weather so that Spike could leave the pavilion, will she make an appearance any time soon? It would be fitting that she and Bess meet again to begin the healing with the Weckerly’s prodical daughter. The prophecy sounds ominous, your muse really likes riddles.

Author's Response: Hey Vette! Oh, now there's something I hadn't thought of - money hidden in the books. I've went a different direction with them and the other magical doo-dads that were safe to sell later on. Probably moving would've been easier with a spell, and with all that mystical power, it would've likely worked fine, but Giles is moving it the old fashioned way. Bess is definately testing the boundries of her new life and that will become more of an issue as time goes on. Is she a teenager or an adult? She wants to be both, as most teenagers do ... she wants the approval and the safety of family, but also wants her freedom ... we'll see how S/B handle it later. Wanda will try to let the mortals sort it out , I think partly because she wants Bess to fully accept B/S as her parents ... but I think we will see her eventually. My muse has been fiddling with those riddles/prophecies for a while ... I hope he knows what he's doing! :O As far as I know, they won't be an issue for some time (not in this story, for sure) and we'll keep getting more clues about them as time passes and Giles finds more out. Thanks so much for your ideas and thoughts! Love hearing from you! -p4s 2011.11.27 ps - haven't forgotten the prego-pizza ... will find a place to intersperse it, I hope!

Love the bracelet, and that Bess is already a Monty Python fan. Apple, tree. Nuff said.

Author's Response: Hey BuffyRat - oh yea, well, you know Spike would've educated her on what to watch on the Telly first thing! ;-) Glad you liked the bracelet ... More to come! -p4s 2011.11.27

Nice “do-over” with a trip down memory lane to make a sad memory into a beautiful one. This is a beautifully written chapter putting to rest some “could’a, would’a or should’a” doubts. They have their destiny and from the ashes of their most dire suffering blossoms a miracle of new life and beginnings. Bess and the unborn child are a result of the wish world. Bess having survived such horrible experiences is truly walking in her parents footsteps and I can only hope that her rewards exceed her worst experiences. She may also need to experience a “do-over” of her own to leave the mother country. Any turned “Spike-ish” watchers out there for a boyfriend for Bess? That would be ironic after having been tormented by watchers for so long yet fitting. Looks in the demon yellow pages to find the demonic version of “E-Harmony.com” to find a love match for Bess. What? They could possibly have one! Love how Spike returned Buffy jewelry with all the love and sentiment that they represented when he bought them for her. The magically created room is such a lovely idea! Leave it to Spike to think of the little details to make their night unforgettable. Is Buffy going to see a prenatal doc soon? Hope so, just to ensure that her unborn babe has come through unharmed from Buffy’s strong emotions and trauma. Speaking of trauma, they all experienced intense trauma, do vampires and slayers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder? I would think that they would hate to over react to the children role playing scenes from Star Wars once they get home. Darn your muse for his sinister attraction on sucking your readers in for more details!